Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing system

ABSTRACT

An advice target location at which a user had a predetermined emotion, for example, is determined based on location information, user biological information, and user transportation means information, which have been acquired by a terminal device ( 20 ) being used by the user. Advice information containing information indicating an advice presentation region set by a server device ( 50 ) is generated based on the advice target location. This advice information is supplied from the server device ( 50 ) to the terminal device ( 20 ), so that the terminal device ( 20 ) presents advice. With this, advice as to locations pedestrians find dangerous can be presented to drivers, and advice as to locations drivers find dangerous can be presented to pedestrians. Accordingly, accidents and the like can be prevented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This technique relates to information processing apparatuses,information processing methods, and an information processing system,and enables presentation of effective advice for drivers, pedestrians,and the like to prevent accidents and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been apparatuses suggested for assisting driving of a vehicleby collecting information about driving of vehicles, determiningsituations, providing information to the driver, and controllingoperation of the vehicle. For example, according to Patent Document 1,an emotion of a driver is estimated by combining changes in thebiological conditions (such as the heart rate, blood pressure, andrespiration) of the driver with changes in the vehicle conditions (suchas the condition of driving by the driver, the existence/nonexistence ofan object in the surrounding area, and contact with an object in thesurrounding area). In this manner, the state of mind of the driver isdetermined holistically. Further, there has been a suggestion forperforming appropriate automatic control by feeding a result of emotionestimation back to determination on the conditions of the vehicle andrecognizing the conditions of the vehicle in greater detail.

CITATION LIST Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-62852

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

A traffic accident between a vehicle and a pedestrian (a bicycle) iscaused by carelessness on one or both sides. Therefore, in many cases,traffic accidents can be prevented if both sides pay enough attention.However, there are differences between the locations drivers finddangerous and the locations pedestrians find dangerous in terms oftraffic. Therefore, there are cases where a location determined to bedangerous by drivers is not regarded as a dangerous location bypedestrians, or where a location determined to be dangerous bypedestrians is not regarded as a dangerous location by drivers. In suchcases, even if one side is careful, the other side is not paying enoughattention, and there is a risk of an accident.

In view of the above, this technique aims to provide informationprocessing apparatuses, information processing methods, and aninformation processing system that can present effective advice forpreventing accidents and the like to drivers, pedestrians, and the like.

Solutions to Problems

A first aspect of this technique lies in an information processingapparatus that includes: a determining unit that determines an advicetarget location at which advice needs to be presented for eachtransportation means based on location information, biologicalinformation, and transportation means information; and a presentationregion setting unit that sets an advice presentation region where adviceis to be presented based on the advice target location determined by thedetermining unit.

In this technique, an advice target location at which advice needs to bepresented for each transportation means is determined based oninformation in which location information, biological information, andtransportation means information are associated with one another. Forexample, an emotion is estimated based on the biological informationcontained in the reception information in which the locationinformation, the biological information, and the transportation meansinformation are associated with one another, and the location ofacquirement of the biological information in a case where apredetermined emotion is estimated is determined to be the advice targetlocation. In determining the advice target location, geographicalconditions are also taken into account. Further, the locationinformation is corrected so as to indicate a location on a street. Theadvice presentation region is set based on the determined advice targetlocation. For example, advice presentation candidate regions are set bydividing a region of a street, statistical processing is performed on aresult of determination on an advice target location in an advicepresentation candidate region, the advice presentation candidate regionis set as an advice presentation region based on a result of theprocessing. In a case where a request for advice information has beenissued, an advice presentation region is selected based on the locationindicated by the location information indicated by the request for theadvice information, and the advice information indicating the selectedadvice presentation region is generated and is transmitted to therequester that has requested the advice information. The adviceinformation is also transmitted in such a manner that the transportationmeans on which the advice presentation region is based isdistinguishable. The advice information also includes presentationinformation indicating what kind of advice is to be presented.

A second aspect of this technique lies in an information processingmethod that includes: the step of determining an advice target locationat which advice needs to be presented for each transportation meansbased on location information, biological information, andtransportation means information; and the step of setting an advicepresentation region based on the determined advice target location.

A third aspect of this technique lies in an information processingapparatus that includes: a location information acquiring unit thatacquires location information; a biological information acquiring unitthat acquires biological information about a user; a transportationmeans identifying unit that identifies the transportation means of theuser; a communication unit; a control unit that transmits the locationinformation acquired by the location information acquiring unit, thebiological information acquired by the biological information acquiringunit, and transportation means information indicating the transportationmeans identified by the transportation means identifying unit from thecommunication unit to an information processing apparatus that providesadvice information, the location information, the biologicalinformation, and the transportation means information being associatedwith one another; and an advice presenting unit that presents advicebased on the advice information received by the communication unit.

In this technique, the location information acquired by the locationinformation acquiring unit, the biological information acquired by thebiological information acquiring unit, and the transportation meansinformation indicating the transportation means identified by thetransportation means identifying unit are associated with one another,and are transmitted to an information processing apparatus that providesadvice information. In a case where advice information about apredetermined range based on a desired location has not been acquired,the control unit transmits a request for the advice information to theinformation processing apparatus that provides the advice information.The request for the advice information contains location informationindicating the desired location. The advice presenting unit determinesan advice presentation region through which the information processingapparatus is about to pass based on information about the advicepresentation region, the information being contained in the receivedadvice information, and presents advice as to the determined advicepresentation region. In a case where the advice information containspresentation information indicating what kind of advice is to bepresented, advice is presented based on the presentation information. Ina case where an emotion estimating unit is further provided, an emotionof the user is estimated based on acquired biological information, andlocation information indicating the location of acquirement of thebiological information in a case where a predetermined emotion isestimated is associated with the transportation means information, andis transmitted to the information processing apparatus that provides theadvice information.

A fourth aspect of this technique lies in an information processingmethod that includes: the step of acquiring location information; thestep of acquiring biological information about a user; the step ofidentifying the transportation means of the user; the step oftransmitting the acquired location information, the acquired biologicalinformation, and transportation means information indicating theidentified transportation means to an information processing apparatusthat provides advice information, the acquired location information, theacquired biological information, and the transportation meansinformation being associated with one another; and the step of receivingthe advice information and presenting advice.

A fifth aspect of this technique lies in an information processingsystem formed with a first information processing apparatus and a secondinformation processing apparatus. In this information processing system,the first information processing apparatus includes: a locationinformation acquiring unit that acquires location information; abiological information acquiring unit that acquires biologicalinformation about a user; a transportation means identifying unit thatidentifies the transportation means of the user; a communication unitthat communicates with the second information processing apparatus; acontrol unit that transmits the location information acquired by thelocation information acquiring unit, the biological information acquiredby the biological information acquiring unit, and transportation meansinformation indicating the transportation means identified by thetransportation means identifying unit from the communication unit to thesecond information processing apparatus that provides adviceinformation, the location information, the biological information, andthe transportation means information being associated with one another;and an advice presenting unit that presents advice based on the adviceinformation received by the communication unit. The second informationprocessing apparatus includes: a communication unit that communicateswith the first information processing apparatuses; a determining unitthat determines an advice target location at which advice needs to bepresented for each transportation means based on reception informationcontaining location information, biological information, andtransportation means information associated with one another, thereception information being received by the communication unit; apresentation region setting unit that sets an advice presentation regionbased on the advice target location determined by the determining unit;and an advice information transmission processing unit that transmitsadvice information indicating the advice presentation region to therequester that has requested the advice information.

Effects of the Invention

According to this technique, an advice target location at which a userhad a predetermined emotion, for example, is determined for eachtransportation means based on location information, biologicalinformation, and transportation means information, and an advicepresentation region is set based on the advice target location. Also,advice as to the set advice presentation region is presented.Accordingly, effective advice for preventing accidents can be presentedto users such as drivers or pedestrians. For example, locationspedestrians find dangerous can be presented to drivers, and locationsdrivers find dangerous can be presented to pedestrians. Accordingly,accidents and the like can be prevented. It should be noted that theeffects described in this specification are merely examples and do notlimit the present technique, and there may be additional effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an informationprocessing system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example structure of a terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the axis of aZ-axis gyro sensor and directions.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example structure of a server device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an information providing operation of aterminal device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operation of the server device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an advice target location determiningprocess.

FIG. 8 shows an example operation in the advice target locationdetermining process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an advice presentation region settingprocess.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation in the advicepresentation region setting process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an advice presenting operation of aterminal device.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a location information correcting operation.

FIG. 13 shows an example of an advice presentation candidate regionsetting operation.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following is a description of embodiments for carrying out thepresent technique. Explanation will be made in the following order.

1. System configuration

2. Structure of a terminal device

3. Structure of a server device

4. Operations of a terminal device and the server device

5. Other structures and operations

<1. System Configuration>

FIG. 1 shows an example configuration of an information processingsystem. The information processing system 10 is formed with firstinformation processing apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as “terminaldevices”) 20 to be used by a driver, a pedestrian, and the like, and asecond information processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the“server device”) 50 to supply advice information to the firstinformation processing apparatuses 20.

The terminal devices 20 are connected to the server device 50 via anetwork 90 such as a public communication network. A terminal device 20generates location information and biological information about the userwho is using the terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 or theserver device 50 determines an advice target location based on thelocation information, the biological information, and the like, whichhave been generated by the terminal device 20. The server device 50performs statistical processing on the result of the determination madeon the advice target location based on the location information, thebiological information, and the like, which have been generated by eachterminal device 20, and sets an advice presentation region. In a casewhere a terminal device 20 presents advice to a user, the advice ispresented based on advice information supplied from the server device50. The server device 50 selects an advice presentation region based onthe current location of the terminal device 20, for example, andsupplies advice information containing information indicating theselected advice presentation region to the terminal device 20, so thatadvice can be presented.

In the description below, the server device 50 determines an advicetarget location, advice information is supplied from the server device50 to a terminal device 20, so that advice is presented. A notificationof a place determined to be dangerous for drivers and pedestrians isissued as advice in the description below.

<2. Structure of a Terminal Device>

A terminal device 20 has a function to display a current location on amap, a navigation function to indicate a path to a destination, and thelike. The terminal device 20 communicates with the server device 50, andpresents advice to a user on a displayed map or with voice based onadvice information supplied from the server device 50.

FIG. 2 shows an example structure of the terminal device 20. Theterminal device 20 includes a Z-axis gyro sensor 21, a Y-axis gyrosensor 22, a triaxial acceleration sensor 23, a geomagnetic sensor 24,an atmospheric pressure sensor 25, and antennas 28 and 29. The terminaldevice 20 also includes a navigation unit 31, a transportation meansidentifying unit 33, a biological information acquiring unit 34, acommunication unit 35, a display unit 41, a storage unit 42, an audiooutput unit 43, a user interface unit 44, and a control unit 45. Thenavigation unit 31 as a location information acquiring unit includes anangle calculating unit 311, a velocity calculating unit 312, a locationcalculating unit 313, an attitude angle detecting unit 314, anorientation calculating unit 315, a positioning signal processing unit316, an altitude calculating unit 317, and a navigation processing unit319. Further, an emotion estimating unit 39 may be provided as describedlater.

The Z-axis gyro sensor 21 detects yawing, which is movement about theZ-axis. The Z-axis gyro sensor 21 detects a yaw rate wz that is thevelocity (angular velocity) at which the angle of rotation of theterminal device 20 about the Z-axis changes. The Z-axis gyro sensor 21detects a yaw rate at a sampling frequency of 50 Hz, for example, andoutputs a detection signal indicating the detected yaw rate to the anglecalculating unit 311 of the navigation unit 31. As shown in FIG. 3, theZ-axis corresponds to the vertical direction. The X-axis corresponds tothe traveling direction of the terminal device 20, and the Y-axiscorresponds to the horizontal direction perpendicular to the X-axis.

The angle calculating unit 311 calculates the angle at which theterminal device 20 rotates by integrating the yaw rate wz input from theZ-axis gyro sensor 21 and the sampling frequency, and outputs angle dataindicating the calculated angle to the location calculating unit 313.

The Y-axis gyro sensor 22 detects pitching, which is movement about theY-axis. The Y-axis gyro sensor 22 detects a pitch rate wy as the angularvelocity about the Y-axis at a sampling frequency of 50 Hz, for example,and outputs a detection signal indicating the detected pitch rate to thevelocity calculating unit 312.

The triaxial acceleration sensor 23 detects an acceleration Ax about theX-axis, an acceleration Ay about the Y-axis, and an acceleration Azabout the Z-axis. The triaxial acceleration sensor 23 detects theacceleration Ax, the acceleration Ay, and the acceleration Az at asampling frequency of 50 Hz, for example, and inputs a detection signalindicating the detected frequencies to the velocity calculating unit 312and the attitude angle detecting unit 314.

The velocity calculating unit 312 calculates a velocity V in thetraveling direction by dividing the Z-axis acceleration Az supplied fromthe triaxial acceleration sensor 23 by the pitch rate wy supplied fromthe Y-axis gyro sensor 22. The velocity calculating unit 312 outputsvelocity data indicating the calculated velocity to the locationcalculating unit 313.

The location calculating unit 313 calculates location information aboutthe current location based on the velocity calculated by the velocitycalculating unit 312 and the angle calculated by the angle calculatingunit 311. Specifically, the location calculating unit 313 calculates achange from the previously calculated location to the current locationbased on the velocity and the angle. The location calculating unit 313then calculates current location information from the change and theprevious location. After that, the location calculating unit 313supplies the location information about the current location to thenavigation processing unit 319.

The attitude angle detecting unit 314 performs a predetermined attitudeangle detecting process based on the detection signal supplied from thetriaxial acceleration sensor 23, to generate and output attitude angledata indicating the attitude angle of the terminal device to theorientation calculating unit 315.

The geomagnetic sensor 24 detects geomagnetism in each of the X-, Y-,and Z-axis directions, and outputs geomagnetic data indicating thedetection result to the orientation calculating unit 315.

The orientation calculating unit 315 performs a predetermined correctingprocess on the geomagnetic data supplied from the geomagnetic sensor 24,and generates orientation data indicating the orientation of theterminal device 20 based on the corrected geomagnetic data and theattitude angle data supplied from the attitude angle detecting unit 314.The orientation calculating unit 315 outputs the generated orientationdata to the navigation processing unit 319.

That is, the triaxial acceleration sensor 23, the geomagnetic sensor 24,the attitude angle detecting unit 314, and the orientation calculatingunit 315 function as an electromagnetic compass, and generateorientation data. Mostly, when the terminal device 20 is detached fromthe vehicle and is used (when the terminal device 20 is used while theuser is walking, for example), the navigation processing unit 319 canprovide the user with map data indicating the orientation of theterminal device 20 based on the orientation data. When used on avehicle, the terminal device 20 associates a street in the map data withthe location of the vehicle in accordance with the pathway of thelocation of the vehicle, and can provide the user with map data in whichthe orientation of the terminal device 20 is adjusted based on theorientation of the map.

The antenna 28 receives positioning signals from positioning satellites,such as signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, andoutputs the received signals to the positioning signal processing unit316. The received positioning signals contain information such as orbitdata indicating the orbits of the positioning satellites, and signaltransmission times.

The positioning signal processing unit 316 calculates the locations ofthe respective positioning satellites from orbit data obtained bydemodulating the received signals supplied from the antenna 28, andcalculates the distances from the respective positioning satellites tothe terminal device 20 from differences between the transmission timesand the reception times of the positioning signals. The currentthree-dimensional location is then calculated based on the calculatedlocations of the respective positioning satellites, and the distancesfrom the respective positioning satellites to the terminal device 20.The positioning signal processing unit 316 generates and outputs currentlocation data indicating the calculated three-dimensional location tothe navigation processing unit 319.

The atmospheric pressure sensor 25 is a sensor that detects ambientpressure. The atmospheric pressure sensor 25 detects atmosphericpressure at a sampling frequency of 50 Hz, for example, and outputs thedetected atmospheric pressure data to the altitude calculating unit 317.

The altitude calculating unit 317 calculates the altitude of theterminal device 20 based on the atmospheric pressure data supplied fromthe atmospheric pressure sensor 25, and supplies altitude dataindicating the calculated altitude to the navigation processing unit319.

The navigation processing unit 319 can acquire the current locationinformation from the location calculating unit 313 or the positioningsignal processing unit 316, and can further acquire the orientation ofthe terminal device 20 from the orientation calculating unit 315 and thealtitude of the terminal device 20 from the altitude calculating unit317. That is, the navigation processing unit 319 has not only anabsolute location acquirement function but also a relative locationacquirement function using various kinds of sensors.

However, relative location information may be used in a situation wherethe terminal device 20 exists at such a location that an absolutelocation cannot be acquired or positioning signals cannot be received,or may be used in conjunction with absolute location information.

The navigation processing unit 319 also reads peripheral map datacontaining the current location from the storage unit 42, and generatesa map image based on the orientation data. The map image contains thecurrent location and conforms to the current orientation of the terminaldevice 20. The navigation processing unit 319 displays the generated mapimage on the screen of the display unit 41. The navigation processingunit 319 can use information about the acquired location as it is, butmay perform various kinds of correction on the information. A typicalexample of a correcting process is a map matching process. A mapmatching process is a technique of correcting location informationerrors by using map information. Through the map matching process, thecorresponding street on the map is searched for in accordance with achange in the location information, correct location information isestimated, and the location information is corrected based on thisestimation.

The transportation means identifying unit 33 identifies thetransportation means in which the terminal device 20 is used, andgenerates transportation means identification information. In a casewhere an acceleration sensor, gyro sensor, or the like is used in theterminal device 20, for example, the transportation means identifyingunit 33 carries out an action analysis based on sensor signals generatedby these sensors, and identifies the transportation means based on aresult of the analysis. In a case where the terminal device 20 issecured to a vehicle via a cradle, for example, the transportation meansidentifying unit 33 determines the transportation means to be a vehicleas the attachment to the cradle is detected. The transportation meansidentifying unit 33 may determine a transportation means by using thevelocity calculated by the velocity calculating unit 312, the anglecalculated by the angle calculating unit 311, and the like. In a casewhere attachment to a cradle has not been detected, if the velocityexceeds a predetermined velocity, for example, the transportation meansis determined to be a bicycle or the like. If the velocity is lower thanthe predetermined velocity, the transportation means is determined to bewalking. In this manner, the transportation means identifying unit 33identifies the transportation means in which the terminal device 20 isused, and generates the transportation means information. Thetransportation means identifying unit 33 may allow the user to inputwhich transportation means the user is using.

The biological information acquiring unit 34 acquires biologicalinformation about the driver, the pedestrian, or the like, who is usingthe terminal device 20. The biological information acquiring unit 34 isformed with a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a respirationsensor, a perspiration sensor, a brain wave sensor, a myoelectricsensor, and the like, so that the emotion being felt by the driver, thepedestrian, or the like can be analyzed based on detection signals fromthe respective sensors.

The antenna 29 is connected to the communication unit 35. Thecommunication unit 35 communicates with a base station (not shown) viathe antenna 29, and connects to the server device 50 via the publiccommunication network 90. The communication unit 35 outputs the locationinformation (the current location and the current altitude) acquired bythe navigation unit 31, the transportation means information generatedby the transportation means identifying unit 33, and the biologicalinformation acquired by the biological information acquiring unit 34, tothe server device 50. The communication unit 35 also receives adviceinformation supplied from the server device 50.

The display unit 41 is a display device that outputs a screen that hasinformation indicating the current location superimposed on map data,for example. The display unit 41 also displays a menu for selecting afunction of the terminal device 20 and performing various settings andthe like. The display unit 41 further presents advice on the screenbased on advice information supplied from the server device 50. Thedisplay unit 41 is formed with a display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, or the like.

The storage unit 42 is a storage medium that stores the program for theterminal device 20 to operate, map data, and biological information andtransportation means identification information associated with timeinformation as a log. This storage unit 42 may be a nonvolatile memorysuch as a flash ROM (or a flash memory), an EEPROM (ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or an EPROM (ErasableProgrammable ROM), a magnetic disk such as a hard disk or a disk-shapedmagnetic body, an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD-R(Digital Versatile Disc Recordable), or a BD (Blu-Ray Disc (a registeredtrade name)), or a storage medium such as an MO (Magneto Optical) disk.

The audio output unit 43 is an output device that outputs audio data,and is formed with a speaker or the like. The audio output unit 43outputs audio guidance related to navigation, for example. The user canrecognize the path to take by listening to the audio guidance, withoutlooking at the display unit 41. The audio output unit 43 also presentsaudio advice based on advice information supplied from the server device50.

The user interface unit 44 is formed with operation switches, operationbuttons, a touch panel integrated with the screen of the display unit41, or the like. The user interface unit 44 receives an operationinstruction from the user, and outputs an operation signal indicatingthe contents of the operation to the control unit 45.

The operation instruction from the user may be a destination setting, anenlargement or reduction of the map, an audio guidance setting, or ascreen display setting, for example. This user interface unit 44 may bea touch screen integrally formed with the display unit 41.Alternatively, the user interface unit 44 may be a physical structureprovided separately from the display unit 41, such as buttons, switches,or levers. The user interface unit 44 may be a signal receiving unitthat detects an operation signal indicating an operation instructionfrom the user via a remote controller.

The control unit 45 controls operations of the respective componentsbased on an operation signal from the user interface unit 44, and causesthe terminal device 20 to operate in accordance with a user operation.The control unit 45 is formed with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), aROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. TheCPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 42, tocontrol operations of the respective components based on an operationsignal from the user interface unit 44, and cause the terminal device 20in accordance with a user operation. The control unit 45 associates thelocation information, the biological information, and the transportationmeans information with one another, and transmits these pieces ofinformation from the communication unit 35 to the server device 50 thatprovides advice information. The control unit 45 further causes thedisplay unit 41 or the audio output unit 43 to present advice based onthe current location and received advice information.

<3. Structure of the Server Device>

The server device 50 performs a process of determining an advice targetlocation based on information supplied from a terminal device 20, aprocess of setting an advice presentation region through statisticalprocessing performed on the advice target location determined for eachterminal device, a provision of advice information to a terminal device20, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows an example structure of the server device. The serverdevice 50 includes a communication unit 51, a storage unit 52, an inputunit 53, an output unit 54, and a control unit 60, and the communicationunit 51, the storage unit 52, the input unit 53, and the output unit 54are connected to the control unit 60.

The communication unit 51 communicates with a terminal device 20 via apublic communication line or the like. The communication unit 51supplies information supplied from the terminal device 20 to the controlunit 60. The communication unit 51 also transmits information suppliedfrom the control unit 60 to the terminal device 20.

The storage unit 52 stores the information supplied from the terminaldevice 20 and information generated by the control unit 60. The storageunit 52 is formed with a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a nonvolatile memory, orthe like.

The input unit 53 is formed with a keyboard, a pointing device, and thelike, and inputs information and the like. The output unit 54 is formedwith a liquid crystal display and the like, and displays information orthe like stored in the storage unit 52.

The control unit 60 is formed with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), aROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. TheCPU performs various kinds of processes in accordance with a programrecorded on the ROM or the storage unit 52. Necessary data for the CPUto perform various kinds of processes is also stored in the RAM asappropriate.

The control unit 60 also includes a determining unit 601, a presentationregion setting unit 602, and an advice information transmissionprocessing unit 603.

The determining unit 601 determines an advice target location at whichadvice needs to be presented for each transportation means based oninformation supplied from each terminal device 20. For example, thedetermining unit 601 estimates an emotion based on biologicalinformation supplied from each terminal device 20, and determines theadvice target location to be the location indicated by the locationinformation associated with the biological information in a case where apredetermined emotion is estimated. For example, a location at which anemotion of surprise is estimated through detection of an increase in theheart rate, an increase in blood pressure, perspiration, or the like isdetermined to be the advice target location.

The presentation region setting unit 602 sets an advice presentationregion based on the determined advice target location. For example, thepresentation region setting unit 602 performs statistical processing onthe determined advice target location for each transportation means, andsets an advice presentation region that is the region where apredetermined emotion is estimated the largest number of times.

The advice information transmission processing unit 603 performs aprocess of transmitting advice information indicating the advicepresentation region to the advice information requester. Also, asinformation about the transportation means is included in the adviceinformation, it is possible to recognize that the advice is based notonly on its own transportation means but also on a differenttransportation means from its own transportation means.

<4. Operations of a Terminal Device and the Server Device>

Next, operations of a terminal device and the server device aredescribed. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an information providingoperation of a terminal device 20. In step ST1, the terminal device 20acquires location information. The terminal device 20 acquires locationinformation through the navigation unit 31, and then moves on to stepST2. The location information may contain not only informationindicating latitude and longitude, but also information indicatingaltitude.

In step ST2, the terminal device 20 acquires biological information. Theterminal device 20 acquires biological information about the driver, thepedestrian, or the like, who is using the terminal device 20, throughthe biological information acquiring unit 34, and then moves on to stepST3.

In step ST3, the terminal device 20 acquires transportation meansinformation. The terminal device 20 generates the transportation meansinformation indicating the transportation means identified by thetransportation means identifying unit 33, and then moves on to step ST4.

In step ST4, the terminal device 20 performs an information holdingprocess. The terminal device 20 associates the acquired locationinformation, biological information, and transportation meansinformation with one another, holds these pieces of information as alog, and then moves on to step ST5. The association among the locationinformation, the biological information, and the transportation meansinformation is made with the use of time information, for example, andthe location information, the biological information, and thetransportation means information are associated with information aboutthe same time.

In step ST5, the terminal device 20 determines whether a predeterminedperiod of time has passed. The terminal device 20 returns to step ST1 ifthe predetermined period of time has not passed yet, and moves on tostep ST6 if the predetermined period of time has passed.

In step ST6, the terminal device 20 performs an information transmittingprocess. The terminal device 20 transmits the unsent log being heldtherein, or the location information, the transportation meansinformation, and the biological information associated with one another,together with the time information, from the communication unit 35 tothe server device 50, and then returns to step ST1.

The procedures of steps ST1 through ST3 may be carried out in differentorder from the order shown in FIG. 5, or may be carried out in parallel.Although information is transmitted to the server device 50 every time apredetermined period of time has passed in the process shown in FIG. 5,information may be transmitted every time the amount of informationbeing held reaches a predetermined amount.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operation of the server device 50. In stepST11, the server device 50 performs an information receiving process.The server device 50 receives information transmitted from each terminaldevice 20, accumulates the information in the storage unit 52, forexample, and then moves on to step ST12.

In step ST12, the server device 50 determines whether advice informationis to be updated. The server device 50 moves on to step ST21 if theadvice information is to be updated, and moves on to step ST13 if theadvice information is not to be updated. The advice information may beupdated at predetermined time intervals or every time a predeterminedperiod of time has passed, or may be updated every time the amount ofinformation supplied from each terminal device 20 reaches apredetermined amount.

In step ST13, the server device 50 performs an advice informationtransmitting process. In a case where location information forpresenting advice information is sent from each terminal device 20, theserver device 50 generates advice information containing informationindicating the advice presentation region located in a predeterminedrange based on the location indicated by the sent location information.The server device 50 further transmits the generated advice informationto the terminal device 20 that has requested the advice information, andthen returns to step ST11.

In step ST21, the server device 50 performs an advice target locationdetermining process, and then moves to step ST22. In step ST22, theserver device 50 performs an advice presentation region setting process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the advice target location determiningprocess. In step ST31, the server device 50 reads biologicalinformation. The server device 50 reads the biological informationaccumulated in the storage unit 52, and then moves on to step ST32.

In step ST32, the server device 50 analyzes the biological information.The server device 50 analyzes the biological information, estimates inwhat state of emotion the driver or the pedestrian using the terminaldevice 20 is, and then moves on to step ST33.

In step ST33, the server device 50 determines whether the emotion issurprise. The server device 50 moves on to step ST34 if the driver orthe pedestrian using the terminal device 20 has an emotion of surprise,and returns to step ST31 when the driver or the pedestrian has someother emotion.

In step ST34, the server device 50 reads related information. The serverdevice 50 reads the location information and the transportation meansinformation associated with the biological information determined to bean emotion of surprise from the storage unit 52, and then moves on tostep ST35.

In step ST35, the server device 50 adds the information to the advicetarget location list. The server device 50 adds the location at whichthe driver or the pedestrian using the terminal device 20 had theemotion of surprise, as the advice target location to the list, and thenmoves on to step ST36.

In step ST36, the server device 50 determines whether the information isthe last piece of information. The server device 50 returns to step ST31if unread biological information remains in the storage unit 52, andends the advice target location determining process if the readbiological information is the last piece of biological information.

FIG. 8 shows an example operation in the advice target locationdetermining process. FIG. 8(A) shows an example of the biologicalinformation stored in the storage unit 52, such as the numbers of heartbeats, In a case where the number of heart beats (the number of heartbeats in 10 seconds, for example) is larger a predetermined thresholdvalue (10, for example), the server device 50 determines the emotion tobe surprise. Therefore, it is determined that the user had an emotion ofsurprise during the period “2012/05/18 9:31:00˜09”.

FIG. 8(B) shows an example of the location information and thetransportation means information associated with the biologicalinformation. The location information and the transportation meansinformation are associated with the biological information based on thetime information. Therefore, the location information (latitude andlongitude) “xx.6894934, yyy.6917221” and the transportation meansinformation “vehicle” during the period “2012/05/18 9:31:00˜09” areadded to the advice target location list shown in FIG. 8(C).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an advice presentation region settingprocess. In step ST41, the server device 50 reads the advice targetlocation list. The server device 50 reads the advice target locationlist stored in the storage unit 52, and then moves on to step ST42.

In step ST42, the server device 50 performs a sorting process based onthe location information for each transportation means. The serverdevice 50 sorts out an advice target location based on the locationinformation, for each transportation means information indicated by thetransportation means information. The server device 50 divides theregion based on latitude and longitude, for example, sets the respectivedivisional regions as advice presentation candidate regions, allocatesthe advice target location to the corresponding advice presentationcandidate region for each transportation means, and then moves on tostep ST43.

In step ST43, the server device 50 determines whether the information isthe last piece of information. The server device 50 returns to step ST41if unread information in the advice target location list remains in thestorage unit 52, and moves on to step ST44 if the read information isthe last piece of information in the advice target location list.

In step ST44, the server device 50 performs statistical processing foreach transportation means. The server device 50 calculates, for eachtransportation means, a statistical value or the average number ofadvice target locations allocated to each advice presentation candidateregion, and then moves on to step ST45.

In step ST45, the server device 50 sets an advice presentation regionfor each transportation means. The server device 50 sets a thresholdvalue in accordance with the statistical value calculated through thestatistical processing in step ST44. Further, the server device 50compares the number of advice target locations allocated to each advicepresentation candidate region with the set threshold value for eachtransportation means. Based on the comparison result, the server device50 sets the advice presentation region(s) that is the advicepresentation candidate region(s) with a larger number of advice targetlocations than the threshold value, and then ends the advicepresentation region setting process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation in the advicepresentation region setting process. FIG. 10 shows an example of anadvice target location list generated for each terminal device. FIG. 10shows an advice target location list in which the transportation meansis “vehicle” based on the transportation means information.

The server device 50 divides the region based on latitude and longitude,and calculates the number of advice target locations included in aregion at latitude “xx.6894000 to xx.6895000” and longitude “yyy.6917000to yyy.6918000” (equivalent to one advice presentation candidateregion), for example. In the example shown in FIG. 10, six listssurrounded by dashed lines are included in the region, and therefore,the number of advice target locations is “6”. The threshold value is setbased on the statistical value obtained by performing statisticalprocessing with the use of the numbers of advice target locations in therespective advice presentation candidate regions, and the advicepresentation region(s) with a larger number of advice target locationsthan the threshold value is set as the advice presentation region(s). Ina case where the average number of advice target locations in eachadvice presentation candidate region is “2”, and the threshold value isset as the value twice the average value, for example, the region atlatitude “xx.6894000 to xx.6895000” and longitude “yyy.6917000 toyyy.6918000” is set as the advice presentation region, since the numberof advice target locations included in this region is “6”.

Although an example process in a case where the transportation means is“vehicle” is shown in FIG. 10, the server device 50 performs such aprocess for each transportation means, sets an advice presentationregion for each transportation means, and stores advice informationcontaining the information indicating the advice presentation regioninto the storage unit 52.

Next, a case where a terminal device performs an advice presentingoperation is described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an advicepresenting operation of a terminal device.

In step ST51, a terminal device 20 performs an advice informationrequesting process. The terminal device 20 transmits an adviceinformation request containing the information indicating the currentlocation of the terminal device 20, to the server device 50. In a casewhere advice information about a predetermined range based on a desiredlocation has not been acquired, for example, an advice informationrequest is transmitted.

In step ST52, the terminal device 20 acquires advice information. Theterminal device 20 further receives advice information supplied from theserver device 50 in response to the advice information request, and thenmoves on to step ST53.

In step ST53, the terminal device 20 performs an advice informationpresenting process. The terminal device 20 presents the acquired adviceinformation through the display unit 41 or the audio output unit 43, andthen moves on to step ST54.

In step ST54, the terminal device 20 determines whether adviceinformation needs to be acquired. The terminal device 20 returns to stepST53 if the advice information about a predetermined region based on thecurrent location has been acquired, and returns to step ST51 if adviceinformation has not been acquired and needs to be acquired.

In accordance with the advice information acquired from the serverdevice 50, the terminal device 20 determines an advice presentationregion located in the predetermined range based on the current location.Further, the terminal device 20 performs advice presentation as to thedetermined advice presentation region. For example, the terminal device20 determines an advice presentation region located in a map rangedisplayed on the display unit 41, and displays an icon or the like thatindicates the contents of advice in a distinguishable manner at thelocation of the advice presentation region on the map.

If there are many advice presentation regions in a map range, the mapbecomes hard to see when icons or the like are displayed at thelocations of the advice presentation regions. The terminal device 20determines the advice presentation region through which a vehicle or apedestrian is about to pass based on the traveling direction of thevehicle or the pedestrian, path information in navigation, the log oflocation information, and the like. Further, the terminal device 20 maypresent advice in the form of an image or voice in a case where avehicle or a pedestrian approaches an advice presentation region.

In a case where the terminal device 20 is provided in a vehicle, iconsindicating advice presentation regions are displayed on the map. Whenthe vehicle is at a certain short distance (10 m, for example) from anadvice presentation region, voice is emitted to the effect that anadvice presentation region is 10 m ahead. In a case where a navigationfunction is used, a route to avoid advice presentation regions issearched for, and after the search, the driver may be notified thatadvice presentation regions are avoided.

In a case where a pedestrian owns the terminal device 20, and uses anavigation function and a music reproduction function, voice is emittedto the effect that an advice presentation region is 10 m ahead when thepedestrian is at a certain distance (10 m, for example) from an advicepresentation region.

In a case where the terminal device 20 has a vibration function, adviceis presented by notifying that an advice presentation region is at acertain distance through vibration. In a case where the terminal device20 has a mail transmission/reception function, when the user approachesa dangerous point, a notification of the dangerous point may be issuedby transmitting e-mail to the owned portable device.

As information about the transportation means is included in the adviceinformation, advice as to its own transportation means and a differenttransportation means from its own transportation means is presented. Forexample, advice as to a location at which a pedestrian had an emotion ofsurprise is given to the driver of a vehicle through an image or voice.In this manner, the driver can recognize the location the pedestrianfound dangerous, and the driver can be prevented from being distractedat the location where pedestrians become careful. Likewise, advice as toa location at which the driver of a vehicle had an emotion of surpriseis given to a pedestrian, so that the pedestrian can recognize thelocation the driver found dangerous, and the pedestrian can be preventedfrom being distracted at the location where drivers become careful.Thus, accidents and the like can be prevented. Also, advice related to avehicle as a transportation means is given to the driver of a vehicle,so that the driver can recognize beforehand the locations other driversfound dangerous.

<5. Other Structures and Operations>

In some cases, location information to be supplied from a terminaldevice 20 to the server device 50 includes an error with respect to anactual location due to a location measurement error or the like. Here, alocation at which a driver or a pedestrian had an emotion of surprise ison a street, and therefore, the server device 50 performs correction sothat the location information indicates the location on the street. In acase where the location indicated by the acquired location informationis not on a street as a result of a search for the nearest street in mapdata based on the acquired location information, the locationinformation is corrected so that the location information indicates alocation on the nearest street, for example. The server device 50provides advice information based on the corrected location information.For example, in a case where locations (black circles) indicated byacquired location information are not on streets as shown in FIG. 12,the location information is corrected so that the location informationindicates locations (white circles) on streets. If location informationis corrected in this manner, advice presentation regions can be set withhigh precision. The location information correction is performed by thedetermining unit 601 of the control unit 60, for example. The locationinformation correction may be performed when the location information isstored into the storage unit 52, or may be performed when an advicetarget location is determined based on the location information.

Since the locations at which a driver or a pedestrian had an emotion ofsurprise are locations on streets, advice presentation candidate regionsare set along a street, so that advice presentation regions can beefficiently set. For example, the server device 50 acquires information(a latitude/longitude stream) about a street from map data, and setsadvice presentation candidate regions (regions indicated by dashedlines) along the street by dividing the street at certain intervals asshown in FIG. 13. As advice presentation candidate regions are set inthis manner, no advice presentation candidate regions are set outsidethe streets, and advice presentation regions can be efficiently set.Although the advice presentation candidate regions are square regions inFIG. 13, ranges of a predetermined distance as a radius of severalmeters from locations at certain intervals, for example, may be set asadvice presentation candidate regions.

Furthermore, the sizes of the advice presentation candidate regions maybe varied depending on the map data. For example, at an intersection, anadvice presentation candidate region is set so as to include theintersection. At a location that does not include any intersection,building, or the like, the advice presentation candidate region is madelarger in size. In this manner, advice presentation candidate regionscan be efficiently set in accordance with a traffic condition or thelike.

In the above described embodiment, advice information indicating advicepresentation regions is supplied from the server device 50 to theterminal devices 20. However, the advice information may containpresentation information as to what kind of advice is to be presented.In a case where a terminal device 20 can selectively present more thanone piece of advice, select information for selecting the piece ofadvice to be presented may be included in the advice information. Inthis manner, the pieces of advice to be presented by the terminaldevices 20 can be managed by the server device 50. For example,threshold values may be set based on a statistical value, advicepresentation regions may be classified, advice such as a “caution” maybe issued in an advice presentation region including a large number ofadvice target locations, and advice such as an “alert” may be issued inan advice presentation region including an extremely large number ofadvice target locations. If the advice information includes timeinformation, advice can be presented only during the hours at which manylocations where users had an emotion of surprise were detected.

In the above described embodiment, biological information is transmittedfrom the terminal devices 20 to the server device 50, and the serverdevice 50 estimates emotions. However, the terminal devices 20 mayestimate emotions, and transmit information about the locations whereusers had an emotion of surprise or location information about theadvice target locations, the results of the emotion estimation, andtransportation means determination information, or location informationabout the advice target locations and transportation means determinationinformation, to the server device 50. For example, the emotionestimating unit 39 may be provided as indicated by a dashed line in FIG.2, estimate an emotion based on biological information acquired by thebiological information acquiring unit 34, determine an advice targetlocation that is the location indicated by the location informationassociated with the biological information when a predetermined emotionis estimated, and supply the location information and transportationmeans determination information to the server device 50. In this case,the server device 50 performs statistical processing on the locationinformation about the advice target locations for each transportationmeans based on the transportation means determination informationsupplied from each terminal device 20, and determines advicepresentation regions. As a result, the processing to be performed by theserver device 50 can be reduced. Alternatively, the functions of theserver device 50 may be provided in the terminal devices 20, and aterminal device 20 may acquire location information, biologicalinformation, and transportation means information from another terminaldevice 20, set advice presentation regions, and present advice as to theadvice presentation regions.

Furthermore, in a case where advice as to a location a driver or apedestrian found dangerous is to be presented, an advice presentationregion may be determined by taking geographical conditions into account.For example, in a case where a location a user found dangerous is anintersection, a narrow street, or in the vicinity of a school, thethreshold value to be compared with the number of advice targetlocations is made smaller, the number of advice target locations isweighted, or a value in accordance with geographical conditions is addedto the number of advice target locations, so that an advice presentationregion can be readily determined. In this manner, the frequency at whicha dangerous point is determined can be increased at such locations.

Although an advice presentation region is set by determining advicetarget locations to be locations where drivers or pedestrians had anemotion of surprise, an advice presentation region may be set bydetermining advice target locations to be the locations where driversfelt sleepy. Alternatively, desired locations are determined based onresults of estimation of some other emotion, and advice may be issuedbased on results of the determination.

The series of processes described in this specification can be performedby hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In acase where processes are performed by software, a program in which theprocess sequences are recorded is installed in a memory incorporatedinto special-purpose hardware in a computer. Alternatively, theprocesses can also be performed by installing the program into ageneral-purpose computer that can perform various kinds of processes.

For example, the program can be recorded beforehand on a hard disk or aROM (Read Only Memory) as a recording medium. Alternatively, the programcan be temporarily or permanently stored (recorded) in a removablerecording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ReadOnly Memory), an MO (Magneto-Optical) disk, a DVD (Digital VersatileDisc), a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory card. Such a removablerecording medium can be provided as so-called packaged software.

The program may not only be installed from a removable recording mediuminto a computer, but also be transferred in a wireless or wired mannerfrom a download site to a computer via a network such as a LAN (LocalArea Network) or the Internet. The computer receives the programtransferred in such a manner, and can install the program into arecording medium such as an internal hard disk.

It should be noted that the present technique should not be interpretedbeing limited to the above described embodiment of the technique. Theembodiment of this technique discloses the present technique throughexamples, and it should be obvious that those skilled in the art canmodify or replace those embodiments with other embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the technique. That is, the claims should betaken into account in understanding the subject matter of the technique.

An information processing apparatus of the present technique may alsohave structures described below.

(1) An information processing apparatus including:

a determining unit that determines an advice target location at whichadvice needs to be presented for each transportation means based onlocation information, biological information, and transportation meansinformation; and

a presentation region setting unit that sets an advice presentationregion where advice is to be presented based on the advice targetlocation determined by the determining unit.

(2) The information processing apparatus according to (1), wherein thedetermining unit estimates an emotion based on the biologicalinformation, and determines the advice target location to be thelocation of acquirement of the biological information when apredetermined emotion is estimated.

(3) The information processing apparatus according to (2), wherein thedetermining unit determines the advice target location by taking intoaccount geographical conditions.

(4) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) through(3), wherein the determining unit performs correction so that thelocation information indicates a location on a street.

(5) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) through(4), wherein the presentation region setting unit performs statisticalprocessing on a result of the determination on the advice targetlocation in an advice presentation candidate region, and sets the advicepresentation candidate region as an advice presentation region based ona result of the processing.

(6) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) through(5), wherein the presentation region setting unit sets the advicepresentation candidate region by dividing a region of a street.

(7) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1) through(6), further including

a communication unit,

wherein the determining unit determines the advice target location basedon location information, biological information, and transportationmeans information, the location information, the biological information,and the transportation means information being received by thecommunication unit.

(8) The information processing apparatus according to (7), furtherincluding

an advice information transmission processing unit,

wherein the advice information transmission processing unit selects anadvice presentation region based on the location information indicatedby an advice information request received by the communication unit, andtransmits advice information indicating the selected advice presentationregion to the requester that has requested the advice information.

(9) The information processing apparatus according to (8), wherein theadvice information transmission processing unit transmits the adviceinformation indicating on which transportation means the advicepresentation region is based.

(10) The information processing apparatus according to (8), wherein theadvice information transmission processing unit transmits the adviceinformation including presentation information indicating what kind ofadvice is to be presented.

(11) The information processing apparatus according to any of (1)through (10), further including

an advice presenting unit that presents advice as to the advicepresentation region.

(12) An information processing apparatus including:

a location information acquiring unit that acquires locationinformation;

a biological information acquiring unit that acquires biologicalinformation about a user;

a transportation means identifying unit that identifies thetransportation means of the user;

a communication unit;

a control unit that transmits the location information acquired by thelocation information acquiring unit, the biological information acquiredby the biological information acquiring unit, and transportation meansinformation indicating the transportation means identified by thetransportation means identifying unit from the communication unit to aninformation processing apparatus that provides advice information, thelocation information, the biological information, and the transportationmeans information being associated with one another; and

an advice presenting unit that presents advice based on the adviceinformation received by the communication unit.

(13) The information processing apparatus according to (12), wherein thecontrol unit transmits a request for the advice information to theinformation processing apparatus that provides the advice information,the request containing location information indicating a desiredlocation.

(14) The information processing apparatus according to (13), wherein,when advice information about a predetermined range based on the desiredlocation has not been acquired, the control unit transmits the requestfor the advice information.

(15) The information processing apparatus according to any of (12)through (14), wherein the advice presenting unit determines an advicepresentation region through which the information processing apparatusis about to pass based on information about the advice presentationregion, the information being contained in the advice information, andpresents advice as to the determined advice presentation region.

(16) The information processing apparatus according to any of (12)through (15), wherein, when the advice information contains presentationinformation indicating what kind of advice is to be presented, theadvice presenting unit presents advice based on the presentationinformation.

(17) The information processing apparatus according to any of (12)through (15), further including

an emotion estimating unit that estimates an emotion being felt by theuser based on the biological information acquired by the biologicalinformation acquiring unit,

wherein the control unit transmits location information indicating thelocation of the acquirement of the biological information when theemotion estimating unit estimates a predetermined emotion, the locationinformation indicating the location of the acquirement of the biologicalinformation being associated with the transportation means information.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In an information processing apparatus, an information processingmethod, and an information processing system of this technique, anadvice target location at which a user had a predetermined emotion, forexample, is determined for each transportation means based on locationinformation, biological information, and transportation meansinformation, and an advice presentation region is set based on theadvice target location. Also, advice as to the set advice presentationregion is presented. Accordingly, effective advice for preventingaccidents can be presented to users such as drivers or pedestrians. Forexample, locations pedestrians find dangerous can be presented todrivers, and locations drivers find dangerous can be presented topedestrians. Accordingly, accidents and the like can be prevented.Therefore, this technique is suitable for electronic devices such as anavigation apparatus and a portable communication terminal that have afunction to generate location information indicating current location,and biological information.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 Information processing system-   20 Terminal device-   21 Z-axis gyro sensor-   22 Y-axis gyro sensor-   23 Triaxial acceleration sensor-   24 Geomagnetic sensor-   25 Atmospheric pressure sensors-   28, 29 Antenna-   31 Navigation unit-   33 Transportation means identifying unit-   34 Biological information acquiring unit-   35 Communication unit-   39 Emotion estimating unit-   41 Display unit-   42 Storage unit-   43 Audio output unit-   44 User interface unit-   45 Control unit-   50 Server device-   51 Communication unit-   52 Storage unit-   53 Input unit-   54 Output unit-   60 Control unit-   90 Network-   311 Angle calculating unit-   312 Velocity calculating unit-   313 Location calculating unit-   314 Attitude angle detecting unit-   315 Orientation calculating unit-   316 Positioning signal processing unit-   317 Altitude calculating unit-   319 Navigation processing unit-   601 Determining unit-   602 Presentation region setting unit-   603 Advice information transmission processing unit

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a determining unitconfigured to determine an advice target location at which advice needsto be presented for each transportation means based on locationinformation, biological information, and transportation meansinformation; and a presentation region setting unit configured to set anadvice presentation region where advice is to be presented based on theadvice target location determined by the determining unit.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedetermining unit estimates an emotion based on the biologicalinformation, and determines the advice target location to be a locationof acquirement of the biological information when a predeterminedemotion is estimated.
 3. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the determining unit determines the advice targetlocation by taking into account a geographical condition.
 4. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedetermining unit performs correction so that the location informationindicates a location on a street.
 5. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presentation region settingunit performs statistical processing on a result of the determination onthe advice target location in an advice presentation candidate region,and sets the advice presentation candidate region as an advicepresentation region based on a result of the processing.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thepresentation region setting unit sets the advice presentation candidateregion by dividing a region of a street.
 7. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit,wherein the determining unit determines the advice target location basedon location information, biological information, and transportationmeans information, the location information, the biological information,and the transportation means information being received by thecommunication unit.
 8. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 7, further comprising an advice information transmissionprocessing unit, wherein the advice information transmission processingunit selects an advice presentation region based on location informationindicated by an advice information request received by the communicationunit, and transmits advice information indicating the selected advicepresentation region to a requester that has requested the adviceinformation.
 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim8, wherein the advice information transmission processing unit transmitsthe advice information indicating on which transportation means theadvice presentation region is based.
 10. The information processingapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the advice informationtransmission processing unit transmits the advice information includingpresentation information indicating what kind of advice is to bepresented.
 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim1, further comprising an advice presenting unit configured to presentadvice as to the advice presentation region.
 12. An informationprocessing method comprising: the step of determining an advice targetlocation at which advice needs to be presented for each transportationmeans based on location information, biological information, andtransportation means information; and the step of setting an advicepresentation region based on the determined advice target location. 13.An information processing apparatus comprising: a location informationacquiring unit configured to acquire location information; a biologicalinformation acquiring unit configured to acquire biological informationabout a user; a transportation means identifying unit configured toidentify a transportation means of the user; a communication unit; acontrol unit configured to transmit the location information acquired bythe location information acquiring unit, the biological informationacquired by the biological information acquiring unit, andtransportation means information indicating the transportation meansidentified by the transportation means identifying unit from thecommunication unit to an information processing apparatus providingadvice information, the location information, the biologicalinformation, and the transportation means information being associatedwith one another; and an advice presenting unit configured to presentadvice based on the advice information received by the communicationunit.
 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13,wherein the control unit transmits a request for the advice informationto the information processing apparatus providing the adviceinformation, the request containing location information indicating adesired location.
 15. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein, when advice information about a predetermined rangebased on the desired location has not been acquired, the control unittransmits the request for the advice information.
 16. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the advicepresenting unit determines an advice presentation region through whichthe information processing apparatus is about to pass based oninformation about the advice presentation region, the information beingcontained in the advice information, and presents advice as to thedetermined advice presentation region.
 17. The information processingapparatus according to claim 13, wherein, when the advice informationcontains presentation information indicating what kind of advice is tobe presented, the advice presenting unit presents advice based on thepresentation information.
 18. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 13, further comprising an emotion estimating unitconfigured to estimate an emotion being felt by the user based on thebiological information acquired by the biological information acquiringunit, wherein the control unit transmits location information indicatinga location of acquirement of the biological information when the emotionestimating unit estimates a predetermined emotion, the locationinformation indicating the location of acquirement of the biologicalinformation being associated with the transportation means information.19. An information processing method comprising: the step of acquiringlocation information; the step of acquiring biological information abouta user; the step of identifying a transportation means of the user; thestep of transmitting the acquired location information, the acquiredbiological information, and transportation means information indicatingthe identified transportation means to an information processingapparatus providing advice information, the acquired locationinformation, the acquired biological information, and the transportationmeans information being associated with one another; and the step ofreceiving the advice information and presenting advice.
 20. Aninformation processing system formed with a first information processingapparatus and a second information processing apparatus, the firstinformation processing apparatus comprising: a location informationacquiring unit configured to acquire location information; a biologicalinformation acquiring unit configured to acquire biological informationabout a user; a transportation means identifying unit configured toidentify a transportation means of the user; a communication unitconfigured to communicate with the second information processingapparatus; a control unit configured to transmit the locationinformation acquired by the location information acquiring unit, thebiological information acquired by the biological information acquiringunit, and transportation means information indicating the transportationmeans identified by the transportation means identifying unit from thecommunication unit to the second information processing apparatusproviding advice information, the location information, the biologicalinformation, and the transportation means information being associatedwith one another; and an advice presenting unit configured to presentadvice based on the advice information received by the communicationunit, the second information processing apparatus comprising: acommunication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of thefirst information processing apparatuses; a determining unit configuredto determine an advice target location at which advice needs to bepresented for each transportation means based on reception informationcontaining location information, biological information, andtransportation means information associated with one another, thereception information being received by the communication unit; apresentation region setting unit configured to set an advicepresentation region based on the advice target location determined bythe determining unit; and an advice information transmission processingunit configured to transmit advice information indicating the advicepresentation region to a requester that has requested the adviceinformation.